Does a dog like this exist?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

DH and kids are nagging for a dog and I don't think we can find a good fit for our family and that it wouldn't be fair on the dog.
We need a dog that will be happy to be home for a good stretch of time (5-6) hours 2/3 times a week.
Good with kids
Easy to train
Medium in size
One that won't shed too much as I have allergies.

DH found a breed but they are rare and good breeders are hard to find.
Anyone recommend a breed that will fit? I don't want to agree to a dog and then regret it.

My friends dachshund just got stolen from her car this week.

"How totally sexist".

That's not what sexism means, plus it's true anyway. Mundane, everyday, domestic crap, shopping, meal prep, cleaning up etc is typically left to women and there's plenty of that with puppies. Sure, there's the fun stuff too, the cuteness, the love, companionship etc but there's the mental load of thinking about worming, defleaing, jabs, feeding and the cleaning up after and relentlessness of house training.

All that said, being left a couple of times a week, whilst not ideal, isn't the end of the world for an otherwise much-loved dog. I don't really do it however, as I worry too much about fires and burglaries.

@Blueberries0112

Can one of you come home between 5-6 hours (or switch days off) to take the pup a walk or anything? This is what most working Americans do.

What has been American got to do with anything? Plus, if they were 5 minutes away, they'd probably already have realised they could pop home and this thread would not exist.

OP you are not “The Bad Guy”. You’re the reality guy!

Also just keep reiterating that it is NOT fair to leave a dog for long lengths of time, ask the kids if they’d like to be left for long periods on their own, and not allowed to speak to friends/family.

RSPC recommends no longer than 4 hours to be left alone. Most shelters will not home unless you are around all day, this must tell you that it’s not okay to leave a dog for long periods. If your lifestyle doesn’t accommodate this you shouldn’t be getting this kind of pet.

It has nothing to do with anything. Sorry I brought it up. Just that a lot of us own dogs and work 40 hrs a week.

@Blueberries0112

It has nothing to do with anything. Sorry I brought it up. Just that a lot of us own dogs and work 40 hrs a week.

It's the same in the UK.

But MN is very hot on dogs not being left alone all day, even though as a dog walker, I'd say the vast majority of my clients leave their dogs 8-9 hours while they're at work with no obvious ill-effects!

I guess I was just observing what we do regularly and sadly most of us are not home all day. I know a lot of countries work 40 /week but I personally think it should be less so we can focus on other things like families and pets

Anyway, doggy daycare is becoming more popular and I am happy to see more and more people are using it.

@sunflowersandbuttercups but you are clearly walking them at some point during the day so they are being out. I understand it’s being done, all over the country but it’s certainly not ideal. I think, if we could ask a dog, they would say they are lonely and anxious being left for a long time and it’s no wonder people have problems with neighbour’s dogs barking constantly. Doggy daycare sounds the answer.

Why can't you get a dog walker?

[quote Poorlykitten]@sunflowersandbuttercups but you are clearly walking them at some point during the day so they are being out. I understand it’s being done, all over the country but it’s certainly not ideal. I think, if we could ask a dog, they would say they are lonely and anxious being left for a long time and it’s no wonder people have problems with neighbour’s dogs barking constantly. Doggy daycare sounds the answer.[/quote]
But they're only out with me for an hour or so, meaning they're still left alone for a good eight hours sometimes.

I agree it's absolutely not ideal, but lots of people do it and their dogs seem happy enough. I've never gone into a home and collected a dog that's obviously distressed (barking, crying, accidents) or that's been destructive in their owners' absence.

I would never do it with my own dogs and if an owner approaches me saying they have a young puppy they want to leave all day with just me popping in at lunch, I always refer them to the local daycare first.

@Sarcobaleno

Why can't you get a dog walker?

Because even with a dog walker coming in, six+ hours is a long time for a puppy to be left alone.

I think six hours a couple of times a week would be fine for an older dog, but not for a puppy or teenager.

I have no advice but thank you for starting this thread because it's made me realise dog ownership is not for me! DH and the DCs won't stop going on about getting a dog but they're not taking into account just how much our lives would have to change. And of course most of the work would be left to me

A miniature schnauzer would fit the bill.
We have one and he is everything you described, he likes his alone time to sleep and not to be bothered.
We have left him for up to 6 hours on his own before (not intentionally) and he has been fine. (Watched him on security camera and he just slept and plodded about the house whole time) No accidents and acted just the same when we got back home as he does if we'd left him for 1/2 hour.
Having said that, it's not something we'd do intentionally and I agree to getting a dog walker those 2 days a week would be needed to break up the day for him/her. Just because a dog is happy to be left at home that long, doesn't mean they should be, there's no such breed.

Your plan isn’t suitable for a puppy - mostly because your setting up a new business so it would be very challenging to also train a pup too - but if you adopted an older dog you could give it a great life. Five hours middle of the day a couple of times a week is totally doable, and you could have a dog walker to break that up even if needed. Then get the puppy when your business is established and you’ve already got dog experience.

Do you have space for a kennel and a large outdoor run? If so get two to keep each other company. A couple of our closeish neighbours have working dogs living out in kennels and when not needed for work they seem to do very well on two walks a day only.

@Asdf12345

Do you have space for a kennel and a large outdoor run? If so get two to keep each other company. A couple of our closeish neighbours have working dogs living out in kennels and when not needed for work they seem to do very well on two walks a day only.

Please don't recommend this for a puppy - or indeed any dog.

Leaving dogs unattended outdoors at the moment is not advised due to the increased number of thefts, the vast majority of which involve dogs being taken from outdoor runs and kennels.

If you have to leave your dogs home alone, they should be left inside a locked house, not in a garden or outdoor space.

@SteelMack it's the truth.

@smellyolddog based on what?

I have a 6 year old bichon crossed with a shih tzu. From day one he has been a joy and a super friendly dog with our kids and their friends. Lovely laid back nature, slept through the night quickly and never barks when we are out. It might just be luck but he is everything you described

When he was a pup 5/6 hours would have been too long he would have been over a year before he could occasionally be left for longer periods

Being left for six hours on a regular basis is not acceptable. You need to make proper arrangements. Of course in unforeseen circumstances a dog can be left, but as a thing planned from the start it is an indication that the time isn't right to acquire a dog. No reputable breeder nor rescue organisation would let you have a dog on that basis. Four hours maximum, less when they are baby puppies.

A middle-aged dog of some breeds might be ok for this length of time.

A puppy/teenage dog - absolutely not. Can you imagine not being able to go to the loo for this length of time? I left my dog with a boarder once (emergency last minute) and he contracted a bladder infection due to holding in wee. I had my suspicions that the person was leaving him alone for long periods .

@Bananacocks

We have a cockapoo, he is fine on his own for 6 hrs. He is great with the kids and never leaves a hair anywhere, they get a lot of stick on here but they are amazing dogs.

I have a cockerpoo its my second one. He's not great with kids and hates to be left, they are cute and funny but i've met some dog trainers who say they are very difficult - boisterous etc. I would only leave him for up to 4 hours if there was no other choice. its nothing to do with breed really its temperament and cutesy dogs are being overbred, I'd never have another one of these he's 4 now but during lockdown I just see puppy after puppy being dragged around the park or allowed to run off at risk to itself or others.

Its a huge commitment, if you need to leave it that long that frequently then you shouldnt have a dog, its offering the animal a poor quality of life in exchange for your amusement.